Fatboy slims down DJ role

Britain's most successful dance music star - Fatboy Slim - plans to retire from his job as a superstar DJ at the tender age of 37.

Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook and Mr Zoe Ball, has told friends that he is "winding down" the work he does as a club DJ.

He says his days of tirelessly touring the world's clubs are numbered and that he wants to concentrate on producing records for other people.

Cook, who has had more charttopping dance music hits in the UK than any other DJ, says he will also be spending more time with his wife, former Radio One DJ Zoe Ball, and their 10-month-old son Woody.

It has been rumoured that Ball is expecting the couple's second child - though this was denied by her agent last night.

A source close to Cook said: "Norman has decided to wind down the whole Fatboy Slim thing. He is going to be putting his feet up from now on and concentrating on producing records rather than being a superstar DJ.

"He feels that he had come to the end of the line as far as DJing goes.

"Norman loves his wife and family and he loves his home on the coast. We can safely say that those are the things he will be concentrating on most in the future. He's out on the tow n tonight for the Muzik Magazine Dance Awards in London - that's going to be his last big appearance as DJ Fatboy Slim."

Cook's spokesman Ed Cartwright, added: "Certainly Norman will not be doing so much Fatboy Slimming next year. He will be spending more time in the studio. He will be spending a lot more time with his family since his studio is at home.

"Norman will be dropping out of the spotlight. For example - on New Year's Eve he will not be DJing for the first time in four years. He's spending time with his family."

Zoe Ball, 31, quit her Radio One show to try for a baby, and was delighted with Woody - who will be one in December. The family lives in Brighton in a white terrace house with its own beach and a turntable in every room.

The prospect of retirement from DJing should not present financial w orries. Cook is a millionaire with a string of hit singles and albums behind him and a long queue of artists desperate for him to remix their singles ahead of him.